Geaux Digital...Now!

Free Music Offer: Google Music

2011-08-18T08:16:00.001-07:00

There's a great new blog for Google Music members: Google Music Magnifier and it offers free music to Google Music members. It features news, tips, and articles on bands and artists.

After each feature, there is a blue button that offers free tracks. Google Music members just need to click the button to add the music to their Google Music account. This new blog is an excellent resource that every Google Music user should add to their favorites.

Why Data Mining Is the Next Frontier for Social Media Marketing

2011-02-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

Why Data Mining Is the Next Frontier for Social Media Marketing

Read the article at Mashable.

orkut blog: New in orkut: Edit your photos with Picnik!

2010-12-22T21:59:00.000-08:00

orkut blog: New in orkut: Edit your photos with Picnik!: "Orkut has an exciting new feature to share with you all: Now you can edit all the photos in your orkut albums with Picnik, the online photo ..."

Yelp's new iPad app is a feast for the eyes

2010-12-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

Yelp's new iPad app is a feast for the eyes

Yelp, the social reviews network known for its community of food-obsessed users, now has a Yelp iPad app to complement its previous mobile offerings. The iPad's large screen is a treat for food lovers, allowing for larger photos of venues and their dishes. It's as if Yelp and Foodspotting -- the mobile food photo app -- had a gorgeous, iPad-sized baby. According to Yelp, "It's a whole frigging new app."

Social Media Basics: Facebook for Beginners

2010-12-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

This is a great primer for those just starting on Facebook.

Here's an excerpt:

We’ve had an influx of new users completely new to social media. This makes sense. Social Media use is continuing to grow, especially in the older demographic, and as more employers, customers and potential partners use social media to make decisions, these users are hoping to use our system to leverage social media for career advancement. This series was inspired to help all you new comers. Before you use our system to find jobs, close deals and control first impressions, you need to set up your profiles first.

1) Keep it Clean

You don’t need to be a saint on Facebook, but you don’t want to embarrass yourself either. A general rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t be comfortable with a stranger, employer or family member finding it, keep it off. This includes

* Photos of illegal activity: Underage drinking, drugs, etc
* Provocative or inappropriate photos and status updates
* Status updates bad-mouthing previous employers or employees
* Discriminatory remarks related to race, gender, religion, etc
* Status updates with poor grammar or communication skills

2. Set privacy settings

If you want to become more visible in your industry and have your profile rank high in Google searches:

* Set your profile to be publicly viewable in search engines
* Turn tagging off for photos to prevent friends from tagging you in pictures you may regret
* Be mindful of all items you post – they will be visible to world

If you only want to use Facebook to communicate with close friends, choose privacy settings that give a select group of people access to your private life. For example, you can lock it down for everyone except your family or your college friends.

To read more go to: Brand-Yourself.com

or click the link below:

http://blog.brand-yourself.com/brand-yourselfcom/social-media-basics-facebook-for-beginners/

Don’t Waste Time in Haste: Social Media Tips & Tricks | Under30CEO

2010-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Don’t Waste Time in Haste: Social Media Tips & Tricks | Under30CEO

Can you really make a lot of money in a very short period of time? Well, may be, if you are really lucky. However, realistically speaking, you can’t get rich overnight. Success comes after you put in efforts.

See, I am saying this because there is a common notion that social media is a new way of making a lot of money online. There is no doubt that it is a powerful medium for marketers, but you can’t grow your small business and make hundreds of thousands of dollars in a matter of days only. You will have to remain consistent and keep evaluating and improving your performance and results.

If you rush, you will waste time. When you rush, you make mistakes. Sometimes, in marketing, we make big mistakes and we can’t undo them. It happens mainly when we rush without a proper plan. If you continue to make progress at a consistent pace, you will achieve the desired results soon. Of course, it won’t happen overnight, but you will eventually create your success story like others.

The Case for Using Social Media - BusinessWeek

2010-09-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

The Case for Using Social Media - BusinessWeek

10 Emerging Social Platforms and How Businesses Can Use Them

2010-09-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

10 Emerging Social Platforms and How Businesses Can Use Them

10 Lesser Known Social Platforms and How Businesses Can Use Them

View more presentations from Erica Swallow.

Why Social Media Matters To Your Business | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

2010-09-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

Why Social Media Matters To Your Business | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

Social media is the next tool for businesses to connect with their clients, customers and target audience.

To read more, go here: Brand-Yourself.com Blog

Does Your Company Have a Social Media Identity?

2010-08-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

Does Your Company Have a Social Media Identity?

posted from

3 Types of Communities All into One. Creating Your Personal Community.

2010-08-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

3 Types of Communities All into One. Creating Your Personal Community.

posted from Blogussion .

How to use Social Media for Business | Serradinho

2010-07-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

How to use Social Media for Business | Serradinho

Good post from Serradinho Blog on using Social Media to improve customer service at your small business.

How to Blog Effectively to Market Your Small Business | Small Business Trends

2010-07-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

How to Blog Effectively to Market Your Small Business | Small Business Trends

Good tips for business bloggers.

Read more at Small Business Trends

Make Blogging Work for Your Small Business

2010-02-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

What the heck is a blog? I guess a blog is a kind of web page that is made up of short posts about a subject or topic, or anything of interest. It’s usually updated frequently with new entries that list in a chronological order. This description is by no means exhaustive, but only meant to give a general idea.

A small business blog can be an excellent tool for communicating with customers or potential customers to share news, information, events and general knowledge about your industry and area of expertise. Small business blogging is catching on like wildfire, as it is an excellent method to promote your product or services, build additional web traffic, and connect with an existing or potential customer base.

How can you get started? First of all, it’s easy to begin. Blogging applications and software are easy to use. You simply record your thoughts, provide links to resources, and publish to your blog. Generally, you publish posts on some kind of schedule and you want the content of your articles to be relevant and of value to your intended audience. Remember that you are creating your blog to be read by an audience, so it’s important to make it worth their time. Blogger.com and Word Press both offer easy blogging tools to get you started.

For the budget conscious small biz owner, blogging is a low-cost alternative to having a full blown web site. It provides a web presence at a great cost. In addition, for those small business owners who don’t have the time to learn web html or the money to hire a designer/developer, blogging offers an inexpensive method to get your company's name out on the Internet.

So investigate the world of blogging and get involved. There are many blogs and web resources available to help you get started. Read as much as you can and start that blog as soon as possible! And soon you’ll be wondering why you hadn’t started that blog sooner.

Note: As a writer new to the blogging scene myself, here are a few of the blogs that I read for instruction and inspiration: (these are just a few of the many blogs out there, be sure to search out the ones that write about your area of interest.)

The Infopreneur
Beginner Blogger
Free Blog Help

Does Your Small Business Have a "Digital Identity"?

2010-02-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

What's your internet "ID"? Who are you on the web? Is your company easily recognized online? These are important questions for the small business owner. If you can't answer these right away, then maybe you need to take a look at developing your "digital identity". By "digital identity", I mean "who you are" on the web. Your "Brand" could be another word for it. In this fast-paced digital world that we live in, a 'brand' can mean BIG business for many small companies. Now, let’s look at 3 things you can do right away to start developing your digital identity.

1. Get a Website - If you don't have one already, WTH are you waiting for? Surprisingly, I saw a recent article that stated that almost 45% of small businesses surveyed DID NOT have a website! Wow! Honestly, I don't think any small business can really survive today without one. Many businesses say, "I'm local. I don't need a website." Well, most of your "local" households have a computer, which in turn connects to the internet. Statistics show that many favor the web over phone directories to find local businesses. So get a website. Period. There are many free providers that can get you started. Google Sites or Webs.com are good choices. Now later you can worry about domain names and such, but for now just "get your toe into the water"!

2. Start a blog - Blogs are a more personal voice for your business. Think of a website as your brochure and your blog as a way to "dialog" with your current and potential customer base. The website is more static, while your blog enables you to build relationship and trust with customers and colleagues. There are many free services available for blogs, the most popular being Word Press and Blogger.

3. Get involved with the Social Web - Social Networking is the buzzword right now. And many businesses are discovering the power of Social Networking and how it can help them. In short, you can reach a whole lot of potential customers with your message through this medium. I would suggest joining a few of these sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. There you can begin to build your business persona by offering info, advice and assistance to the social community. Once you've established that you are genuinely interested in serving and not selling, and then you can begin to slowly create traffic to your blog or website.

By utilizing these 3 simple yet effective strategies briefly mentioned here, any small business will be well on their way to establishing their Digital Identity.

Optimize Your Web Browser for Business

2010-02-03T16:42:00.000-08:00

Today's business world is fast!! And it's the tech savvy person that can use tech to get up to speed. One of the most powerful tools that exist for the business warrior is the internet. It is today's lifeline to almost everything. News, information, data; it's all there, readily available to you at a moments notice. But it's also available to your competitors, so you've got to get to it fast! Here are a few tips on web browsers and several links to add-ons/ plug-ins that can really help the small business.

First, I recommend Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, not Internet Explorer which is the default (and faulty) browser from Microsoft. IE has far too many security issues and that's additional headaches that your business doesn't need. So if you're using Internet Explorer, I HIGHLY recommend switching to one of these browsers:

Firefox is a good standard. I've used it well and it's much more secure than Internet Explorer. Once optimized with the well developed plug-in or add-on, it will serve you well. Mozilla is diligent at keeping it up to date and continuously make improvements.

To get even better productivity from Firefox, here's a link to a list of add-ons that can help you in your business: http://bit.ly/V4nvn . Be sure to take a look at Fastest Fox, an add-on the really speeds up your browsing.

Another great browser that is relatively new, but growing in popularity is Google Chrome. Chrome is fast becoming my browser of choice, mainly due to my affinity to Google products and because it's just plain good. As developers are creating more and better add-ons and extensions for Chrome, its use for the small business should increase greatly.

If you use or choose to test-drive Chrome, check out these extensions for greater usability: http://bit.ly/7TyvV5 . A great extension for Chrome is FastestChrome, which optimizes Chrome for speed in browsing.

So ditch Internet Explorer, if you haven't already. Download either of these I've suggested and experiment with the plug-ins and extensions. Soon you’ll be one of the fastest and most productive business warriors on the net!

3 Ways Technology Can Help Your Business

2010-02-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

Whether you are starting a new business or have been established for a while, no business owner can downplay the importance of technology. Today's technology makes it possible for almost anyone with business aspirations to compete in the marketplace with confidence. However, for as many as are utilizing tech to their advantage, there are just as many who can't envision how technology can help their small business. Here, I'll take a look at 3 ways that technology helps small businesses do what they do, and a whole lot better.

1. Technology Helps Businesses Work Faster – No one can argue that technology has enabled business to move much faster than before. No longer are we waiting for information, for at a mouse click, data is delivered to us at blazing speeds. Tasks that used to be done manually are now automated, and workflows are now streamlined and efficient. These factors now enable us to be more productive and cost effective. As an example: Web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, especially when optimized for speed, allow for a fast and secure way to use the internet.

2. Technology Helps Businesses Work Smarter – Each day, creative developers are coding applications that enable the savvy business user to get to the information he needs. Intelligent programs are analyzing topics and trends, and are able to translate this information into data that businesses can use to meet market demands. Devices such as netbooks and Smartphone’s put this valuable data quickly into the hands of the business person, thus allowing for quick, yet accurate decisions and actions.

3. Technology Helps Business Reach Farther – One of the most important elements of a successful business is communication. And now, businesses must be able to go beyond local boundaries, to compete they must have a global voice. Today’s technology paves the way for far-reaching collaboration. Anyone can meet and plan “virtually” from anywhere worldwide. Video conferencing, email and instant messaging have literally “shrunk” the world. Additionally, with social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, businesses can connect to an even larger network of business and customers. Subsequently, businesses benefit from greater productivity and efficiency.

These are just 3 of the ways that technology can help businesses; there are many more. And in the next series of posts, we’ll take a look at several of the applications mentioned above and see how to use them to get the most for your small business.

First Things First: My First Blog Post!

2010-02-01T16:54:00.001-08:00

Welcome All! If you're reading this then I've somehow convinced you to come and check out my new blog, "Geaux Digital...Now!” My intentions for this blog are for it to be a sort of hub of information for small businesses. Specifically, a source of information on the technology and trends that can help small businesses be successful. Why "Geaux Digital...Now"? Well, "Geaux" is just a play on words...you see, I'm from Louisiana and it just looks "Cajun" and all. {grin} "Digital", of course, is for the digital age that we live in. Technology is advancing at an alarming rate, and there is a vast amount of cool stuff out there. And the imperative "Now" is a call to action for small businesses to utilize all of the fantastic tools available, in order to be in a position to win in the world of business.

Now everything I've read suggests that I start off this blog with an introduction, so here goes. My name is Bryan Foster aka TheDigitalDoctr. TheDigitalDoctr is a nickname that many local family and friends labeled me with because I always had a knack for solving technical problems. You know the guy they call when their computers wouldn't work or their printers wouldn't print. I've always been fascinated with tech, even from the early days of Wang and Tandy. (Hope I'm not dating myself!) For the past 12 years I have been an IT Specialist for the Federal Government, and I also freelance as a consultant for many of the small businesses in my area. And that's what prompted me to start this blog. I noticed a surprising amount of small businesses that weren't using the many tools, applications, software and technology that were readily available to them.

So I welcome you aboard this journey, my journey into the Blogosphere. I'm glad you're here and I hope you enjoy the ride. Or at least find a useful tidbit here and there. I'll try to cover current news and trends as it pertains to small businesses, and try to give suggestions as to how these can be incorporated into a businesses plan. Oh, and please, leave comments, reviews, suggestions...and yes, even criticisms. (hopefully there won't be many of those)

And there you have it, my first blog post. Let me know what you think?